Sermon Tone Analysis

Address to the Congregation

We have all heard the phrase “have your cake and eat it too…”

This phrase simply means that if you eat your cake now it will be gone therefore to cannot have the benefits of having the cake and eating it.

The secular world understands this but the Christian body seems to have trouble with this concept.

From the time Jesus declared you cannot serve two masters he made clear He will not tolerate one who is playing house with the Body.

The same can be said about His word… We should consider an honor to have His word in our hands.

We should furthermore be jealous for the right division of His word.

Some where along the way we lost sight of the blessing it is to have (a) His word, (b) the Holy Spirit to bring understanding, and (c) Sound in depth teaching by those who lead.

1 Pet declares the posture we are to have in the face of a world the is devolving into depraved immorality.

1. Prepare your minds for Action

2. Be Sober-minded

3. Set you hope on the Revelation of Jesus Christ

4. DO NOT conform to the passions of the old self

5. Be holy for I am Holy...

This is not legalism as legalism believes that you can earn salvation… rather it is the constant pursuit of holiness, being set apart, to not partaking in the things of this world, and having the intestinal fortitude to take action against those who teach the body falsities.

What this means for us is this… the congregation has suffered being sold out for comfort, and compromise.

Decades of this have left the congregation anorexic, powerless, looking more like the secular world than it does the body of Christ.

It seems the Christian body today wants to have its cake (the pleasures of this world) and eat it too (the riches of the kingdom to come.)

Be Holy as the Lord is Holy, that you may receive the authority of the shepherd.

This address is to the sold out congregation and not so much the sold out leader.

it appears to be the follow on to the message to Pergamum

Figurative Language, Symbolic Language , as well as, Literal Language.

At its core this letter addresses the need to be set apart

Finally an address of the gift that carries significant weight for the believer.

Revelation of Christ

In the address to the church in Pergamum we noted the Lord’s Anger as He stood before them as judge

In this address sentence has been passed on the leaders but now He will address the congregation.

Jesus as Righteous Judge

Sun of God vs Son of God

Makes clear He is “THE SON of God “ not the sun god which many of them had professed.

References the book of Daniel as the one in the oven who protected

His eyes like a flame of fire

Purifier

judges metal or work

Feet burnished bronze

speaks of the work

He is ready to pass judgement on Thyatira and to protect those who are persevering.

Commendation for Advancement

Intimate knowledge of the Work

Love

Faith

Service

Patient Endurance

This congregation is different than Ephesus they pursued greater than before

The body can advance even when the leaders are being corrected.

Rebuke for Embracing False Teaching

Our God is a jealous God.

Literal may imply Sexual Immorality

this is something that is spoken about time and again

does not sit complete

Symbolically

Not against a woman who teaches but against leaders who are teaching the congregation false doctrines,

teaching people the things that will tickle their ears and leads them to behave like the world

The teachers had been given time to repent but they refused; now the congregation is being told to wake up or risk suffering the same consequences.

Sickbed speaks of the tribulation and punishment

She (the false teachers) and her children (spiritual offspring) struck dead

The next verse speaks affirms this thought as it speaks of learning the deep things of satan.

(false doctrine intended to mislead the people)

Exhortation to Advance and Not to Regress

Grace continues to be extended… its a call to repent of following after false teachings

A call to continue seeking to advance in the things of the Lord

Yes you are a temple, You Decide what to fill it with

If you want God to fill your temple then you must come out from among the secular… its a command to be different… only then does the Lord fill our temple.

Reward for Seeking Holiness

Authority over the Nations

Keeps His Works He is the one examining our works

Rule them with iron rod speaks of Shepherding

compares our ruling to His ruling

Morning Star

Progressing glory

Morning Star Identified as Jesus

Speaks of Ruling With Him.

Be holy for I am Holy, separate yourselves from the secular… get away from false teachers… as you are found persevering it is Jesus who places His authority in you in the now and the promise in the future speaks of how the one who will overcome will shepherd the nations in His kingdom.